Quessenberry, a sixth-round pick in 2013, briefly spoke with the team but was not made available to the media. He is expected to miss the 2014 season while undergoing chemotherapy at M.D. Anderson Hospital.

"It makes our day look easy," said Jones, who regularly speaks with Quessenberry.

The practice only lasted a few minutes, ending in joy when Jones caught a wobbly Chris Boswell punt. Texans players shouted and danced after Jones' spread-legged reception. The catch ended offseason workouts for the team, which begins training camp in late July.

"We had a little fun there with Boswell," O'Brien said. "I don't think (Shane) Lechler warmed up properly. We let Boswell punt and it wasn't a great punt. I think he was a little nervous. (Jones) caught it, which was great.

"Oh yeah, he didn't volunteer. You try to pick an offensive lineman who's a fun guy, a good guy and a hard-working guy. And that's Ben."

Jones was relieved to retrieve the punt, saying he didn't want to make J.J. Watt and other defenders "mad" at him.

"I was just doing what O.B. asked me to do," Jones said.

Texans offensive linemen Duane Brown and Chris Myers tweeted photos of Quessenberry soon after practice. Jones said it was powerful to again see their cancer-stricken teammate in uniform.

"Quessenberry's a great kid, we really look up to him," Jones said. "It takes a man to do that. To come out there and see all the guys. We know he's struggling, know he's hurting, know he's tired. … His attitude toward everything is amazing."

Jones is also adjusting to the departure of quarterback T.J. Yates, a close friend who was traded to Atlanta on Wednesday night.

"Me and T.J. is going to stay best friends," Jones said.

When the Texans learned there was interest in Yates, they traded him to Atlanta for inside linebacker Akeem Dent.

Rather than release Yates, they were able to acquire Dent (6-1, 239) on Wednesday to give them depth at inside linebacker.

Dent, 26, was the Falcons' third-round pick out of Georgia in 2011. He started seven games last season and 13 in 2012 when Atlanta made the playoffs.

When the Texans elected to keep Case Keenum over Yates, he became expendable, and general manager Rick Smith was able to engineer the trade that's contingent on both players passing their physicals.